Third man arrested in shooting of Sanford officer

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Sanford, N.C. — Sanford police arrested a third man Wednesday in the shooting of a fellow officer.

Officer Scott Norton was shot at least four times Sunday while he and a partner were on surveillance duty at the Thornwood Village mobile home park, Police Capt. David Smith said.

Andrel Shauntez Douglas, 23, of 36 Happy Lane in Sanford, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.

He was being held in the Lee County Jail on $900,000 bond.

Breon Montrell Black, 21, of 2518 Dalrymple St. in Sanford, and Thomas Harold Mitchell II, 16, of 1800 Marks Road in Cameron, were arrested Monday on the same charges. A judge set Black's bond at $960,000 and Mitchell's at $860,000.

Smith said Norton and his partner were watching four people they believe were acting suspiciously. When the officers tried to confront the men, one or two of the suspects opened fire, Smith said.

Norton was out of the hospital Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery, Smith said. He credited Norton's bulletproof vest for helping save his life.

Norton is on the Sanford Police Department's SWAT team and has been with the force for 5 years. He is married and has children.